Species Distribution Modelling With Bayesian Statistics (SDMB08)
Model species distributions using BART in R. Covers uncertainty, variable selection, and full Bayesian workflow.
Duration: 3 Days, 4 hours per day
Next Date: June 1-3, 2026
Format: Live Online Format
UK (GMT+1) local time - All sessions will be recorded and made available to ensure accessibility for attendees across different time zones.
£385Registration Fee
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- Overview
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Course Description
This course focuses on the use of BART (Bayesian Additive Regression Trees) for modelling
species’ geographical distributions based on prescence data and environmental variables. BART is a relatively recent technique that shows very promising results in the field of species distribution and ecological niche modelling (SDM / ENM), as it produces accurate predictions (considering various aspects of model performance) without overfitting to noise or to special cases in the data. Additionally, BART allows mapping the uncertainty and credible intervals associated to each local prediction.
The course includes a combination of theoretical lectures and hands-on practicals in R, as well as open discussions about models and data for SDM applications. The practicals go through a complete worked example, from data preparation to model output analysis, with annotated R scripts that can be adapted on-the-spot by participants to work on their own species of interest. Along the course, the instructor is available for constant feedback and orientation on participants’; outputs and interpretations.
What You’ll Learn
During the course will cover the following:
- Download climate variables and occurrence data for a species of your choice.
- Get a model-ready dataset with an appropriate extent and spatial resolution.
- Compute and fine-tune a BART model to predict your species’ geographic distribution.
- Interpret BART results, including posterior mean predictions, credible intervals and uncertainty.
- Evaluate and cross-validate the model, addressing different aspects of performance.
- Assess variable importance and select relevant variables.
- Compute partial dependence plots and maps.
Course Format
Interactive Learning Format
Each day features a well-balanced combination of lectures and hands-on practical exercises, with dedicated time for discussing participants’ own data, time permitting.
Global Accessibility
All live sessions are recorded and made available on the same day, ensuring accessibility for participants across different time zones.
Collaborative Discussions
Open discussion sessions provide an opportunity for participants to explore specific research questions and engage with instructors and peers.
Comprehensive Course Materials
All code, datasets, and presentation slides used during the course will be shared with participants by the instructor.
Personalized Data Engagement
Participants are encouraged to bring their own data for discussion and practical application during the course.
Post-Course Support
Participants will receive continued support via email for 30 days following the course, along with on-demand access to session recordings for the same period.
Who Should Attend / Intended Audiences
The course is designed for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in applying best practices and state-of-the-art methods for modelling species distributions or ecological niches in an automated and reproducible manner. Participants are expected to be familiar with the concept of species distribution models (SDMs) or ecological niche models (ENMs), and ideally have some basic experience working with them. While no prior knowledge of Bayesian statistics is required, attendees should have some experience using R, including installing packages and handling basic data operations. To support learning, fully commented scripts will be provided throughout the course.
Equipment and Software requirements
A laptop or desktop computer with a functioning installation of R and RStudio is required. Both R and RStudio are free, open-source programs compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
A working webcam is recommended to support interactive elements of the course. We encourage participants to keep their cameras on during live Zoom sessions to foster a more engaging and collaborative environment.
While not essential, using a large monitor—or ideally a dual-monitor setup—can significantly enhance your learning experience by allowing you to view course materials and work in R simultaneously.
All necessary R packages will be introduced and installed during the workshop. A comprehensive list of required packages will also be shared with participants ahead of the course to allow for optional pre-installation.
Dr. Márcia Barbosa
Márcia is a biogeographer and macroecologist with extensive experience in geographic information systems (GIS) and species distribution modelling (SDM). Her research focuses on developing and applying open, transparent, and reproducible workflows for ecological modelling, with a particular emphasis on best practices in biodiversity informatics. She actively promotes the use of free and open-source software in ecological research and contributes to the development of tools that enhance reproducibility and scientific integrity.
Márcia is also an experienced instructor and science communicator, regularly teaching courses and delivering workshops on SDM, GIS, and open science in ecology. She serves as a reviewer and editor for multiple scientific journals and funding agencies, contributing to the advancement of rigorous and transparent research practices across the ecological sciences.
Education & Career
• PhD in Biological Sciences, with a Thesis on mammal biogeography
• Researcher and educator in biogeography, macroecology, and ecological modelling
• Editor and reviewer for scientific journals and grant agencies
Research Focus
Márcia’s work centres on the development and dissemination of open-source methods for ecological modelling, particularly in the context of species distributions and macroecological patterns. She is especially interested in advancing reproducible GIS-based workflows and integrating ecological theory with computational tools to support biodiversity conservation and spatial planning.
Current Projects
• Development of open-source tools for species distribution modelling
• Promotion of transparency and best practices in ecological data analysis
• Educational initiatives on GIS and SDM using free and open-source software
Professional Consultancy
Márcia provides expert advice on ecological modelling, spatial data analysis, and workflow reproducibility for research teams, conservation practitioners, and policy makers. She also advises institutions on integrating open science principles into ecological research and education.
Teaching & Skills
• Teaches GIS, species distribution modelling, and open science tools
• Experienced in developing reproducible analytical workflows in ecology
• Advocate for free and open-source software and transparent research practices
Links
• Homepage
• ResearchGate
• Google Scholar
• ORCID
• GitHub
Session 1 – 01:00:00 – Obtain and process data, including species presences and environmental variables
Session 2 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Session 3 – 01:00:00 – Determine an adequate spatial resolution and extent for modelling
Session 4 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Session 5 – 01:00:00 – Build a species distribution model with BART and obtain predictions of environmental favorability, with credibility intervals and associated uncertainty
Session 6 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Session 7 – 01:00:00 – Module 2b: Evaluate and cross-validate the model, assessing various aspects of predictive ability
Session 8 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Session 9 – 01:00:00 – Quantify variable contributions and try out different methods for selecting relevant variables
Session 10 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Session 11 – 01:00:00 – Plot and map the species’ partial response to each variable
Session 12 – 01:00:00 – Practical
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
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